Rope cinch



May 14, 1929. c. OTTE 1,713,238

ROPE C INCH Filed May 21, 1928 Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES CLAUS OTTE, 0F ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA.

ROPE CINCH.

' Application filed may 21,

This invention relates to rope tightening devices, and has for an object the provision of a rope cinch by means of which a rope may be drawn taut.

Another object is the provision of a rope cinch as described, adapted to remain in that position in which the rope is held taut until manually and intentionally released.

Another object is the provision of a rope cinch of the general character described, having aplurality of fingers upon the link, to which the rope is to be attached by means of which the fastening process is facilitated.

My invention possesses other objects and features ofadvantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the-following description of the preferred form of, the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit'myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor truck having the improved rope cinch of my invention installed thereupon so as to draw a rope taut over the load carried by the truck, to retainthe load in position.

I Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of my improved rope cinch in side elevation, and showing the operative parts thereof in the positions assumed thereby before being moved to ropetightening position. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the cinch of Fig. 2, showing a rope attached thereto and showing, the operative parts moved to the positions assumed thereby after they have been moved to rope-tightening position.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the device of Fig. 3, the direction of View being indicated by the arrow 4 of that figure. 1

Fig. 5 is a top plan view ofthe link to which the rope is attached, the direction of view being indicated by the arrow 5 of .Fig. 2. i

Fig. 6is a fragmentaryview showing a modified form of attaching bracket.

' In terms of broad inclusion, the improved rope cinch of the presentinvention comprises abracket adapted to be rigidly secured to a supporting structure, with a portion thereof projecting outwards from that structure to 1928. Serial No. 279,258.

provide a pivotal connection for a tightening lever. A link is pivoted to the lever at a point spaced from the pivoted end of the lever so that when the lever is swung upon its pivotal mounting,the link is moved longitudinally.

The parts are so arranged and'propor tioned that before the lever completes its swinging movement, it passes the-dead center position in respect to the direction of pull. of the link, with the result that this pull tends to retain the lever with the link may be. swung on its pivotal mounting to tighten the rope; and then by completmg the pivotal movement of the lever, the parts locked in rope-tightening position against inadvertent displacement. thereof until the lever be swung in a reverse direction manually and intentionally- Accordingly, my invention finds a particular field ofutility in conjunction with such vehicles as motor trucks, where it maybe employed to draw a rope taut over the load on the vehicle to prevent displacement of the load during transportation.

Specifically describing the preferred embediment of my invention, I have provided a bracket- 6 having an offset portion 7 through which any suitable attaching means such as bolts, maybe extended into the frame 8 or other portion of avehicle 9 to: rigidly attach the bracket 6 thereto. A portion 11 ofthe bracket extends rearwards thereof and is provided with an aperture through.

which a bolt 12 or its equivalent may extend to provide a pivotal mounting for the bifurcated end 13 of a lever 14 with the portion link 16 is provided by means of which a rope 17 may he opeiratively connectedto the lever 14: to tighten the rope 17 by down- 11 disposed within the bifurcation wardswinging of the lever 14. The lower end 18 ofthe'link 16 is also bifurcated with,

a portion 19 of the bifurcation bowed outwards to form an eye adapted to pass over the bifurcation 13 and the portion 11 of the i bracket 6 as well as therethrough.

As aresult, the link 14; may be'swllmg downwards upon its pivotal mounting l2,

- carrying with the linkf lfi v until eye" the bolt12 extending 17 thereto.

straight portion 22 of the link upon which means are provided for attaching the rope tire link is slightly bowed edgewise, with the center portion of the bow extending away from the bracket 6, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The means for attaching a rope to the cinch, comprises a plurality of lingers rigid with the straight portion 22 of the link 16. The uppermost finger 23 is hook shaped and is bent over to extend beyond one side 24: of the link from the top thereof, with the open side 2601f the hooked finger 23 directed across the link toward the other side 27 thereof. The next adjacent linger 28 is positioned below the finger 23 and extends from the after edge 29 of the straight portion 22 of the link 16. The finger 28 is reversely bent to extend beyond the side 27 to' present a hook with the open side 31 thereof extending forwards across the link toward the other edge 32 thereof. The lowermost finger 33 is also hook shaped, with the open side 3 1 of the hook extending angularly downwards, and with the hook33 01-;-

tending beyond the side 2% of the straight portion 22 of the link 16.

' The bracket 6 is particularly designed for mounting my improved rope cinch upon the frame 8 of a vehicle 9. It is intended that the oifsetportion be secured to the under side of the frame by suitable bolts or their equivalent, so that'the portion 11 extends:

However, if it be [more convenient to attach the cinch to a verrearwards of the vehicle.

' downwards about the after side of the hook 33, and as at 37 wound thereabout to extend upwards around the forward side of the hook 33. A half hitch 38 is then thrown over the hook 28 with that portion 39 of the rope In its preferred form, the enextending from the hook 33, passing over the hook 28 and thence around the same, with the end 41 of the rope extending under the portion 39, and between the portion 39 and the portion 412 extending between the hook 2 3 and the hook 33. Thus it may be seen that when the standing portion of the rope '17 has tension imposed thereupon, the portion 42 bears outwards against the end 41 and the portion 39 bears inwards against the portion 4:1, with the result that the rope 17 securely attached to the link 16 without any additional tying being necessary.

The rope 17 should be attached to the link 16 in the manner described, or in any other convenient manner with the lever'lt in the position indicated in Fig. 2. The

lever 14: may then be swung downwards upon its pivot 12, causing the link 16 to be pulled longitudinally downwards to impose tension upon the rope 17. It is to be understood of course, that when the device isemployed to retain a load 16 upon thevehicle 9, that the other end of the rope 17 has previously :of the rope 17 serves to retain the parts in tightening position from which they can not he inadvertently displaced to release the tension on the rope. However, such release may easily be effected by swinging the lever 14 in a reverse direction, after which the rope 17 may be easily discngaged'from the adapted to be rigidly attached to a supporting structure witha portion of the bracket extendmg outwards from the structure, a

lever ivoted at one end to the extended 701'- tion of said bracket, a link bifurcated at one end and pivoted to said lever at a point spaced. from the pivoted end of the lever, and with the lever disposed within the bifurcation thereof, a portion of the bifurcation being bowed outwards to form an eye adapted to pass over the pivoted connection between the bracket and lever, and means a at the other end of said link for attaching a rope thereto.

2. A rope cinch comprising a bracket adapted to be rigidly attached to a supporting structure with a port-ion of the bracket extending outwards from the structure, a lever pivoted at one end to the extended portion of said bracket, a link bifurcated at one end and pivoted to said lever at a point tion, and means at the other end of said link for attaching a rope thereto.

3. In a rope cinch, a link, means associated with said link for pulling it longitudinally and for looking it at the end of such longitudinal movement, and a plurality of fingers projecting from said link about which a rope may be twisted to secure the rope to the link.

4. In a rope cinch, a link, means associated with said link for pulling it longitudinally and for looking it at the. end of such longitudinal movement, and a plurality of hooked fingers projecting from said link about which a rope may be twisted to secure the rope to the link.

5. In a rope cinch, a link, means associated with said link for pulling it longitudinally and for looking it at the end of such longitudinal movement, and a plurality of fingers projecting from said link about which a rope may be, twisted to secure the rope to the link, the uppermost of said fingers being hook shaped and extending to one side of the link from the top thereof with the open portion'of the hook directed across the link toward the other side thereof, an-

' other of said fingers extending from an edge of the link and being reversely bent toward the second mentioned side of the link, and

the lowermost of said fingers extending from the link to that side thereof toward which the first mentioned hook extends.

6. In a rope cinch, a link, means associated with said link for pulling it longitudi- I nally and for lockingjit at the end of such longitudinal movement, and a plurality of fingers projecting from said link about which a rope may be twisted to secure the rope to the link, the uppermost of said fingers being hook shaped and extending to one side of the link from the top thereof with the open portion of the hook directed across the link toward the other side thereof, another of said fingers extending from an edge of the link and being reversely bent toward the second mentioned side of they link, and the lowermost of said fingers being bent downwards and extending from the link beyond that side thereof beyond which the first mentioned hook extends.

7. A rope cinch comprising a bracke adapted to be rigidly attached to a supporting structure with a portion of the bracket extending outwards from the structure, a lever pivoted at one end to the extended portion of said bracket, a link pivoted to said lever at a point spaced from the pivoted endof the lever, the pivoted end of said link being bowed outwards and adapted to pass the pivoted connection between the bracket and lever, and means at the other side of said link for attaching a rope thereto.

8. An attaching device comprising a link and a plurality of fingers projecting from said link about which a, rope may be twisted to secure the rope to the link, the uppermost of said fingers being hook-shaped and extending to one side of the link from. the top thereof with the open portion of the hook directed across the .link toward the other side thereof, another of said fingers extending from an edge of the link and being reversely bent toward the second mentioned side of the link, and the lowermost of said fingers extending from the link to that side thereof toward which the first mentioned hook extends. a

9. An attaching device comprising a link and a plurality of fingers projecting from said link about which a rope may be twisted to secure the rope to the link, the uppermost of said fingers being hook-shaped and extending to one side of the linkfrom the top thereof wit-h the open port-ion of the hook directed across the link toward the other side thereof, another of said fingers extending from an edge of the link and be ing reverselybenttoward the second mentioned side of the link, and the lowermost of said fingers being bent downwards and toward which the first mentioned hook extends.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification.

CLAUS O'ITE.

extending from the link toqthat side thereof 

